Category Archives: Jewish Law

LAWS AND ORDERS – Mishpatim, Ex. 21-24 – by Rabbi Baruch Cohon Last week’s Torah reading gave us principles of right and wrong in the Ten Commandments. This week we go into detail with a basic code of law — what to do, … Continue reading →

PURGING EVIL – Shoftim – Deut.16:18-21:9 – by Rabbi Baruch Cohon Justice is Moses’ theme in this section, setting out rules and methods to achieve that goal. Courts, magistrates, officers – all the nation’s public administrators have a basic duty to see that … Continue reading →

A MESSAGE FROM MOSES – Deut.3:23—7:11 – Va-etkhanan – by Rabbi Baruch Cohon This week’s reading is long, starting with Moses recalling praying to be permitted to enter the Promised Land, being refused, accepting his fate, and then turning to remind his … Continue reading →

BLESSINGS AND GRAMMAR –Numbers 6:22-27 – birkas cohanim – by Rabbi Baruch Cohon Three sentences that we read in the Torah this week get repeated all the time – in Christian houses of worship, in Masonic funeral ceremonies, and most often in … Continue reading →

TEN STATEMENTS – A Shavuot message by Rabbi Baruch Cohon This week we celebrate a wonderful holiday that is sadly neglected lately. The holiday is Shavuot, called The Feast of Weeks in English. While it may lack the family festivities of a … Continue reading →